Friday 30 January 2009 12.30 – 14.00

Church and religious communities are often critical voices and successful fighters for the protection of human dignity and human rights. However, religion and human rights are often in contradiction to each other: forced marriages, religiously motivated terrorist attacks and the oppression of people with different religious beliefs are some examples. Moreover, some churches and religious communities still discriminate against women and homosexuals.

1. Why are human rights' violations committed on behalf of religion?
2. Is the increase of religious fundamentalism connected to respect or disrespect of human rights?
3. To what extent is religion used as a pretext for discrimination against women?
4. What is the responsibility of the government in the protection of religious identity and freedom of worship? Should governments set limits?

* Serap Cileli
Author and Women’s Rights Activist, Germany
* Priest-monk Macarios
Representative, Department of External Church Relations, Russian Orthodox Church
* Frank Mathwig
Senior Officer for Theology and Ethics, Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches, Switzerland
* Abu Eesa Niamatullah
Imam and Executive Director, Cheadle Mosque, Cheshire & Prophetic Guidance, United Kingdom
* Daniel Thürer
Professor, Chair of International, European, Public and Comparative Constitutional Law, University of Zurich, Switzerland

Introduction
* Micheline Calmy-Rey

Federal Councillor, Switzerland

Moderation:
Susanne Wille,  Swiss Television